Pictured are, seated left to right: Brittany Heller, Winsted; Hannah Hoffman, Chaska; Ashley Luehrs, Glencoe; standing left to right: Keith Diers, Howard Lake; Emily Halvorson, Waconia; Joshua Phipps, Belle Plaine; Linda Roepke, Ridgeview Foundation board member and scholarship committee chair; Riika Quernemoen, Lester Prairie; Elizabeth Reinert, Watertown. (Not pictured: Brett Pexa,NYA; Lee Johnson, Delano.)
Ridgeview Foundation and Ridgeview Medical Center proudly announce the 2009 recipients of $1,000 Health Care Career Scholarships awarded by the organization. The following 2009 high school graduates plan to pursue careers in health care professions. Congratulations to these stellar graduates:
- Joshua Phipps—Belle Plaine Sr. High School
- Hannah Hoffman—Chaska High School
- Brett Pexa—Central High School (NYA)
- Lee Johnson—Delano High School
- Brittany Helle—Holy Trinity High School – Winsted
- Keith Diers—Howard Lake/Waverly/Winsted High School
- Riika Quernemoen—Lester Prairie High School
- Ashley Luehrs—Mayer Lutheran High School
- Brittany Machemehl—Mayer Lutheran High School
- Emily Halverson—Waconia High School
- Elizabeth Reinert—Watertown-Mayer High School
More than $87,000 was raised back in 2001 at the Ridgeview Foundation Golf Extravaganza to create a scholarship program in response to the shortage of health care workers at that time. Since the program’s inception, more than 90 area graduating seniors have been awarded scholarships from the organization. Ridgeview has been an educational resource for many of these successful scholarship winners during their college careers; many go on to participate in job-shadow opportunities offered by Ridgeview Medical Center.
In 2009, Ridgeview Friends & Family, Ridgeview’s largest giving club, adopted this important program and will continue to fund the scholarships through annual donations from generous community members, as well as Ridgeview employees.
If you would like to learn more about the scholarship program and its eligibility requirements, please contact Kelly Schiffman in the Foundation office at (952) 442-6010. Applications for next year's scholarships will be available in February 2010.